Friday, April 12, 2013

Knicks Bounce Back Against Cavs Behind Melo and J.R.

The Knicks had a great bounce back game
against the Cavaliers tonight after a hard fought game in Chicago Thursday
night. The Knicks were able to get their
main players some rest tonight, something that are very important as the
playoffs approach and the Knicks cannot afford to suffer anymore injuries in
the last three games before the playoffs start.
With the win tonight coupled with the Pacers loss to the Nets, the
Knicks magic number for the second seed in the Eastern Conference sits at one
game. Ironically enough, the Knicks can
clinch the second seed Sunday afternoon against the same Pacers team chasing
them for it.

-Positives

The Knicks
were able to get their main players some rest tonight after a tough game
last night against Chicago and quick turnaround tonight. Raymond Felton, who said his knee felt a
little weak but went out there tonight, played only 24 minutes tonight and
got some much needed rest for his knee injury. Carmelo Anthony only had to play 30
minutes and J.R. Smith only had 29 as Mike Woodson was able to get them some
good rest in the second half.

Anthony
once again was a monster on the offensive end, scoring 31 points on 12 of
24 shooting from the field, two of five from the three point line and five
of eight from the foul line.
Anthony made his presence felt on the boards again, as the
short-handed Knicks needed another great effort in the rebounding
department from Anthony and he delivered, grabbing 14 total rebounds. He again made a living on the offensive
glass, as half of his rebounds tonight were of the offensive variety. The third quarter Anthony put on a show
as well, when he scored 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds, four of
which were offensive ones.

Anthony had
some help in the scoring department tonight from Smith, who got off to a
slow start making only one of his first four shots, but finished the night
on fire. Smith proceeded to make
his last 12 shots of the game, finishing 13 of 16 from the field for 31
points, including two of three from the three point line and three of five
from the foul line. Smith added five rebounds, an assist, two steals and a
block in a nice bounce back game, registering a +21 tonight after
registering an ugly -32 last night.

Iman
Shumpert did not shoot the ball well tonight, going three of 11 from the
field, but he helped out in other ways tonight. One way was on the glass, as he grabbed
a career-high 11 rebounds. He also
added three assists and good defense, spearheading a defensive rotation
that was able to make it a difficult shooting night on Cavalier star Kyrie
Irving, who scored 31 points but needed 27 shots to make it there. On the night the Knicks held the
Cavaliers to 43 percent shooting and only 27.3 percent from the three
point line.

-Negatives

The free
throw shooting cannot be this poor for the Knicks heading into the
playoffs. Free throws will be an
important part of the game come playoff time as the pace slows down and
games become tighter contests. If the
Knicks do not make their free throws they will let opposing teams off the
hook by not capitalizing on an opportunity to get free points.

Steve Novak
had an opportunity tonight in extended minutes to show Woodson he deserves
playing time in the playoffs and put up an egg of a game. Novak went one of seven from the field,
one of six from deep. If Novak is
not making his three point shots he has no reason to be on the court for
the Knicks as he does not offer the offensive versatility of Chris
Copeland, the player he may be losing his minutes to come the playoffs.